Wednesday, March 26, 2008

To Do in Denver

Denver is an amalgam of rustic rurality and urban chic. The skyline's backdrop is a set of breathtaking, snowcapped mountains, yet its museums are world-class, its shopping highly respectable and its restaurants delectable. And you're always within a short drive of a rodeo.

Some of the best mac-and-cheese and spaghetti and meatballs can be had at Steubens, an upscale diner, or try a well-crafted pizza at Proto's, a regional chain. On the upper scale, try Rioja for the leg of lamb with goat cheese polenta, Bistro Vendome for its molasses-glazed duck confit, Tamayo for a prickly pear margarita or Mizuna for scallops if they're on the menu.

If you've eaten enough and need a non-museum break, Tattered Cover Book Store has a big selection of books and magazines and a cafe where you can inspect the wares pre-purchase. (It's also the host of an Emerging Museum Professionals evening reception during the meeting.) You might also like the flagship REI store with its mountain biking trails and indoor climbing structure, modeled after the sandstone bluffs of the Colorado Range.